It is Day 4 of the 'Bookation' and my kids are on their second book each. I am pleased that they are intrinsically motivated and challenged to read, so I asked my 10 year old what was her motivation to take part in the 'Bookation'. Her reply was almost textbook and on target with the research. Researchers have identified a number of factors important to reading motivation, they include self concept ("reading makes me feel good about myself"), value of reading ("You need to know how to read because it is important to life"), choice of books ("This library has some really cool books"), types of text available and the use of incentives ("Are we really going to the mall when we are finished here"). Children need to be motivated to do anything , especially those things they don't necessarily enjoy. When it comes to reading to reading my kids have a high self-efficacy. Albert Bandura (1986) defines self-efficacy as the beliefs we have of ourselves that cause us to make choices, put forth effort and persist in the face of difficulty, and I know it was difficult for them to turn the TV off and read.
Roland,
ReplyDeleteIt must be fantastic having kids who love to read!! I think that developing a love and appreciation of reading is crucial to our success as teachers and future reading specialist.
You have captured the essence of my problem in you post.... as a parent you encourage reading. More than that, you can read!
Let me explain.... last week we registered the students enteringour school in form one. I registered 20 students (all girls). Of this 20, there were 7 parents who were unable to fill out the registeration form. 2 of which were inable to read the form at all.
As a reader from an early age and a member of a family who loves to read, you could just imagine the confusion this reality creates in my mind.
So our taks is this, we not only have to develop self confidence in our students in terms of reading, but we must also find a way to address the literacy problem within the home.
Continue to appreciate your kids' love for reading.
Hi Roland, congratulations on being such a wonderful dad.It is such a responsibility and pleasure at the same time. Some fathers are missing from the lives of their children and are creating these vacant areas that contribute negatively to the growth and development of their children. Bandura,s recognition of self efficacy as being of importance is so crucial to learning in both young learners and adults. I am sure your children,s self efficacy is as a result of modelling and observation from you and your wife as models in the home.
ReplyDeleteThe concepts of modelling and observational learning are a part of Bandura,s Social Cognitive model. This is so because he recognised the importance of positive modelled bahaviour to learning. Keep up the good work and I am looking forward to the next post...Reading to my children!!!!!
No, I do not think your inventive word is clumsy at all, it is indeed quite appropriate. I think that what you are doing for your children is admirable. According to McKenna & Stahl (2009), “If you hope to influence students’ attitudes toward reading in a truly substantial way, you must first know something about your children. How positive are their attitudes? What are their likes and dislikes?”
ReplyDeleteI too will like to share a similar experience. Last vacation, 2009, I entered my 10 year old daughter in a Readathon put on by NALIS. In addition to reading the books (some selected by the librarians and some selected by the participants), the children had to write a report on each text. Although my daughter loves to read, she has preferences and so I allowed her to choose the books she liked. I noticed that she did not enjoy all the books that the librarian selected but, she had to read them as well. Although she was intrinsically motivated, there was also an external factor that kept her going. She had her eye on the prize. Ultimately, she came 2nd in the Readathon and she won an MP3 and a book. She was indeed very happy.
Keep up the good work that you are doing "Kasserian."
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ReplyDeleteHi Ronald,
ReplyDeleteI too, believe that children must be motivated to read, and as teachers this becomes one of our most difficult challenges. There are many people who are able to read but do not like it. I feel strongly about this since I believe that I also fall in that category. I know however, that there are things that I like to read and I will not stop reading when I start. So, my advice to parents has always been to allow children to join the National library and to let them select their own books. Indeed, our National Library System is one of the most underutilized resources.
Hey Roland,I'm posting in response to your post on motivation. I think that it is one of the most important issue facing us today where our students are concerned.Just today I was in school discussing this same issue with my VP. We were noting the transformation of one student who previouly found it difficult to stay in class with any teacher .He roamed or was either put out of class.The VP literally took him under her wings and developed a relationship with him- he would visit her office almost every day and she would assign small tasks to him. He aims to please her now. I know that it is difficult to do his with every child but I believe that not only technology alone will interest children but personal relationships with them.If every adult on the compound were to intervene in children's lives there would be a significant difference.The literature terms it pastoral care. I am in no way disagreeing with your post, just complementing it.
ReplyDeleteWith boys I think that gender friendly assessments and other related teaching and learning tasks will also help to motivate them..
One of the things we must take into consideration is the fact that students come from some kind of social environment. Many of our students are not in ideal situations and this leads to them behaving in a manner which is inappropriate. It is always beneficial to investigate their background so that you will understand why students don't behave the way they should. Their motivation to work will come, in part, from a teacher who knows whats going on and cares. For example a student who has to come to school with an empty stomach will not be motivated to work. If a teacher knows this they can be more sensitive to the student and even assist where possible. A relaxed student and an understanding teacher will aid in the student's motivation and promote performance.
ReplyDeleteI wish there were more dads like you. Firstly, you are doing the most important prerequisite for nurturing life long, sustained readers, and that is modelling. Many parents would turn off the television and instruct the kids to read, and it ends there. You are teaching your kids that reading is a multifaceted activity that serves many purposes. And that the main purpose should always be pleasure. Too many of our adolescents have missed out on that opportunity, this has contributed to the problem of deviance. Literature helps mold identities,Elkin and Luke, (1992) adolescent literacy is the very forum where we shape identities and citizens, culture and community.(p. 215) Children who are deprived of the developmental literacy experience can indeed be troubled. So spread the message to all your young male charges that pleasure reading builds healthy children and nations.
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